Youth & Young Adults Resources

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1 in 10 college students contemplates suicide. That means nine out of ten students have the opportunity to help that one who is struggling. Inspired by this statistic, Nine out of Ten is an ambassador program that empowers college students to be a hopeful voice for suicide prevention and promote a mental health movement on campus. Through student-led innovation and a multitude of approaches, Nine out of Ten student ambassadors engage in year-round advocacy and awareness activities to spread the message of Nine out of Ten

16 - 24 years old that may be experiencing a mental health crisis. The 24-hour Young Adult Support Hotline immediately connects youth in crisis to mental health specialists who are able to respond in person as long as the environment is safe for both the young person and the mobile outreach clinician. The hotline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Directing Change Program and Film Contest engages students and young people throughout California to learn about the topics of suicide prevention and mental health in an innovative way: a film contest.

The contest is part of Each Mind Matters: California's Mental Health Movement and statewide efforts to prevent suicide, reduce stigma and discrimination related to mental illness, and to promote the mental health and wellness of students.

Fresh Check Day, the signature program of the Jordan Porco Foundation, is an uplifting mental health promotion and suicide prevention event that includes interactive expo booths, peer-to-peer messaging, support of multiple campus departments and groups, free food, entertainment, and exciting prizes and giveaways. Fresh Check Day aims to create an approachable and hopeful atmosphere where students are encouraged to engage in dialogue about mental health and helps to build a bridge between students and the mental health resources available on campus, in the community, and nationally.

I'm AliveIMAlive is the world’s first virtual crisis center. It is the world’s first crisis center where 100% of the volunteers are trained in crisis intervention. In the first year since the launch IMAlive has helped thousands of people in crisis.Website https://www.imalive.org/​

What began as a wildly successful social media campaign to provide hope and encouragement to young LGBTQ+ people has evolved into a major, multi-media platform capable of reaching millions of young people every year through inspiring media programming, a growing network of international affiliates, and access to an arsenal of community-based service providers.

Jasper's Game DayJasper’s Game Day started out as an idea between online influencer and content-creator, Satine Phoenix and high school sophomore, Fenway Jones. Jasper, the event’s namesake, lost his life to suicide at the young age of 16. He was Fenway’s tabletop gaming partner in crime. Jasper’s Game Day engages local game shops to raise money for suicide prevention and their local crisis centers.

In Conjunction with the American Association of Suicidology, has launched a new campaign aimed at gamers, and you can help! Download flyers below.Website https://jaspersgameday.com/​

JED Foundation

JED is a nonprofit that exists to protect emotional health and prevent suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults. JED’s programs are grounded in their Model for Comprehensive Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention for Colleges and Universities, developed in collaboration with SPRC.

National Center for the Prevention of Youth SuicideThe American Association of Suicidology's National Center for the Prevention of Youth Suicide program believes that suicide can often be prevented. For example, many youth give warning signs if they are considered taking their lives, and intervening can save their lives. Other youth maybe kept from reaching the point of even thinking about suicide by individuals reaching out and showing them they care. Strong communities, safe schools, and supportive families all help the development of healthy youth. For youth struggling with mental illness and or substance abuse, effective services make a difference.

The National Runaway Safeline gives help and hope to youth and their families by providing non-judgmental, confidential crisis intervention and local and national referrals. Confidential and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

This local (for residents of the Bay Area, CA), live chat room is available Monday-Thursday 4:30 - 9:30 p.m. during the school year.

It provides a safe and anonymous place for teens to get information and support from other teens. You can talk about anything that’s on your mind, including relationships, school, depression, stress, suicide, friends, parents, cutting, identity, and health. You can also submit a question to be answered on the Q&A page, or connect to resources for additional information and support.

Ad Council Campaign Empowers Young Adults to ‘Seize the Awkward’ and Start the Conversation with Friends At Risk

January 17, 2018 – In a groundbreaking effort to empower teens and young adults to reach out to friends with mental health issues who may be at risk for suicide, the Ad Council has joined The Jed Foundation (JED), the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and Droga5 to launch Seize the Awkward, a national public service campaign.

Seize the Awkward encourages teens and young adults, particularly those ages 16-24, to create a safe space for their friends to open up about mental health challenges. The campaign personifies an awkward silence that can happen between friends before a conversation about mental health.

The mission of the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide is to reduce the number of youth suicides and attempted suicides by encouraging public awareness through the development and promotion of educational training programs.

The Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide was founded in 2005 by two friends who lost teenaged children to suicide.Website https://www.sptsusa.org/​

Teen Line— 1-800-TLC-TEEN (852-8336)

TEEN LINE is a confidential hotline for teenagers which operates every evening from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00.p.m. PST and is toll-free from anywhere in California. If you have a problem or just want to talk with another teen who understands, then this is the right place for you! You can even text by texting “TEEN” to 839863. TEEN LINE also offers message boards, resources and information.

A crisis intervention and suicide prevention phone service. The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention service to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth. Confidential and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Light for Life Foundation Int’l/Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program® is dedicated to preventing suicide and attempts by Making Suicide Prevention Accessible to Everyone and Removing Barriers to Help.

The program began in 1994 in response to heartfelt pleas from teens and adults after the death of a friend and loved one, Mike Emme (17).

You Matter is a safe space for youth to discuss and share stories about mental health and wellness, created and administered by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You Matter blog posts are written by a rotating Blogger Council of individuals between the ages of 13-24 that are passionate about suicide prevention and mental health.

You Matter is a movement to spread the word that your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you—unique and real you—matter. And because just about everyone—at some point—hits the wall, we’re here to help.

The Lifeline network is proud to be a partner in and a leader of multiple initiatives to raise public awareness and further the field of suicide prevention.

Teens are more connected than ever before and as they move towards new technology, the Boys Town National Hotline® is right there with them. Text messaging is a now available to teens who are uncomfortable making a phone call. This is in addition to the instant messaging or “online chat” that is already available to teens at yourlifeyourvoice.org.

The information provided on this Website reflects a national consensus view on youth suicide warning signs as a result of the American Association of Suicidology (AAS), National Center for the Prevention of Youth Suicide (NCPYS), SAMHSA, and an expert panel that convened in August 2013.